9-day guided tour: Christchurch to Dunedin to Invercargill to Te Anau to Queenstown to Omarama to Christchurch. Featuring almost 600km of rail on The Mainlander, Catlins, Milford Sound, and TSS Earnslaw.
9-day guided tour: Christchurch to Dunedin to Invercargill to Te Anau to Queenstown to Omarama to Christchurch. Featuring almost 600km of rail on The Mainlander, Catlins, Milford Sound, and TSS Earnslaw.
An unforgettable Deep South adventure by rail and coach – almost 600km on The Mainlander through Christchurch, Dunedin, Invercargill, The Catlins, Te Anau, Queenstown and Omarama, then home again.
Travel south with an included lunch on Day 1, then explore by coach with quality hotel stays each night – including a Milford Sound cruise and TSS Earnslaw dinner cruise. You travel with an experienced driver/guide throughout.
9 days · Christchurch to Dunedin
Day 1
Registration from 8:20am at Addington Railway Station; The Mainlander departs 9:10am for the Main South Line journey to Dunedin. Lunch on the train, welcome dinner and tour briefing at the hotel. Stay: Dunedin Leisure Lodge.
Day 2
A leisure day in Dunedin, or take the optional Taieri Gorge train (bookable pre-tour). Breakfast included. Stay: Dunedin Leisure Lodge.
Day 3
Continue south on The Mainlander to Invercargill, then visit Bill Richardson Transport World. Breakfast, lunch on the train and dinner at the hotel. Stay: Distinction Invercargill Hotel.
Day 4
Full-day coach excursion into The Catlins on the Southern Scenic Route – Waipapa Point Lighthouse and Nugget Point. Breakfast and lunch included. Stay: Distinction Invercargill Hotel.
Day 5
Coach via the Southern Scenic Route with visits to Te Hikoi Museum and the Takahe Sanctuary, arriving at Lake Te Anau. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. Stay: Distinction Luxmore Hotel.
Day 6
Alpine drive along the Milford Road, then a Milford Sound cruise to Mitre Peak and the Tasman Sea. Breakfast and lunch on the cruise. Stay: Distinction Luxmore Hotel.
Day 7
Travel via Arrowtown. Evening TSS Earnslaw cruise on Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak for a gourmet BBQ dinner. Breakfast and dinner included. Stay: Oaks Queenstown Shores Resort.
Day 8
Coach via Wanaka and Lindis Pass into the Mackenzie Basin. Breakfast and dinner included. Stay: Distinction Heritage Gateway Hotel, Omarama.
Day 9
Return via Lake Pūkaki, Tekapo, Geraldine and Barkers Café. Breakfast and lunch included. Tour concludes in Christchurch.
The Mainlander Train has limited mobility access with no wheelchair or scooter access. Guests must be able to board unaided using the vertical steps on all transport, and walk a short distance unaided for shuttle transfers.
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